The Atomic Energy Commission, of course, is interested 

 in the effects of radioactive materials on the marine environnnent. 

 The ocean is the ultimate destination of a major portion of radio- 

 active fallout. The ocean itself may be a potential disposal area 

 for atomic wastes. We should make every effort to increase our 

 knowledge of the ultimate effect of radioactivity on ail marine life. 



The National Science Foundation is a major supporter of 

 oceanographic research at civilian institutions and oceanographic 

 laboratories. Further, the President has designated the National 

 Science Foundation as the coordinator of the United States activity 

 for the Liternational Indian Ocean Expedition, which is now in pro- 

 gress and which will go on for the next several years. Data from 

 this expedition will add appreciably to our knowledge of this inade- 

 quately known area. 



Each problem in oceanography, whether in connection with 

 military, scientific, or economic problems, requires information 

 that is not now available. During recent months much has been 

 said, implied, or surmised about instrumentation and its needs in 

 oceanography. One of the purposes of this Symposium is to present 

 from a coordinated point of view of the agencies represented in the 

 National Oceanographic Program the data requirements for a wide 

 variety of applications. These must be translated into instrumen- 

 tation requirements which must be satisfied if the National Ocea- 

 nographic Program is going to proceed efficiently. We feel that 

 through this coordinated expression of requirements you will be 

 able to gauge those areas of the future oceanographic instrumen- 

 tation program in which your segment of industry may give us the 

 assistance that we need. A large share of the work necessary to 

 conduct a vigorous instrunnentation program -- and by that I mean 

 new ideas, research, development, production, engineering, and 

 manufacture of instruments -- must come from private industry. 

 We feel that you will be in a much better position to help us in 

 meeting this challenge in oceanography if you are infornned of our 

 goals and the problems we face. We are in a large part dependent 

 upon you for the creative imagination necessary to develop new de- 

 vices to increase the effectiveness of our program. 



And now, on behalf of the Interagency Committee on Oceanog- 

 raphy, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for your atten- 

 dcince at these meetings today and tomorrow. We welcome your 

 participation in the National Oceanographic Program. 



